The National Football League launched its 2020 season schedule Thursday night with the expectation that each of its 32 franchises will be able to play a full 16 game schedule. In an effort to protect its players and other employees from contracting COVID-19 at its facilities in preparation for the season, the league's Houston Texans are hiring a facility hygiene coordinator.
The employee hired to the position will be responsible for overseeing COVID-19 risk mitigation at team facilities, reports ESPN via Sports Business Journal. It's believed that the Texans are the first of the major professional sports franchises in the United States to hire a person whose job will be devoted to industrial hygiene.
Like other teams, the Texans have started their annual offseason programs a little differently this year by hold virtual meetings.
Like a few teams, the Texans don't actually own the stadium in which they play their home games. As a result, the hygiene expert hired by the team will primarily focus on team offices and facilities, according to the report.